Related

OTTAWA — An internal federal memo recommended last year that the Harper government lobby the B.C. government to lift its 2008 moratorium on new fish farms off the north coast.

The document was prepared in May 2013 by top departmental officials advising Keith Ashfield, then the federal fisheries minister. It was titled the “post-Cohen aquaculture business resumption plan” — a plan to encourage the expansion of B.C.’s fish farming industry after the $26-million Cohen Commission report on missing wild salmon.

However, both the B.C. and federal governments said Thursday that no high-level discussions have taken place on the matter.

The memo suggested that the federal government “initiate … engagement with the province of B.C. to explore potential expansion of salmon aquaculture in the North Coast, including removal of the current moratorium on salmon farms” along B.C.’s north coast.

It also proposed that Ottawa allow multi-year rather than single-year licences to improve long-term business certainty for industry. And it called for “robust” consultation about the expected provincewide industry expansion with the public, industry officials, environmental groups and First Nations.

“This approach will help mitigate potential legal risk (for example, First Nations litigation), as well as help address potential concerns related to environmental and disease impacts which may be heightened by a transition to multi-year licences and/or expansion of marine finfish aquaculture in the North Coast.”

The report also elaborated on the government’s commitment to expand research into the effect of fish farms on the health of wild salmon.

That pledge was made after Justice Bruce Cohen’s 2012 Fraser River sockeye report, which didn’t blame fish farming for the wild fishery’s problems but expressed concern about the potential for harm from the spread of disease and sea lice.

Among his recommendations was a continued freeze on expansion of the industry in the fish farm-heavy Broughton Archipelago. He also called on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to stop promoting the fish farm sector since it potentially conflicted with the department’s obligation to protect wild fisheries.

While the government didn’t end the department’s role as an industry advocate, it did launch a plan to produce a peer-reviewed scientific report assessing the potential transfer of disease from farmed to wild fish.

The results of the study, which is underway, could “if required” result in changes to the federal aquaculture management regime on the West Coast, particularly relating to the Discover Islands area and the Fraser River sockeye fishery, according to the briefing note.

The internal document was obtained by the environmental group Watershed Watch, which has argued that the federal government has ignored Cohen’s findings on fish farming.

A spokesman for the organization said if Ottawa knocks on Victoria’s door asking for the moratorium to be lifted, that door should be slammed shut.

“The province needs to stand up to Ottawa and protect B.C. from salmon farm expansions in the North and elsewhere,” said Stan Proboszcz. “It makes no economic sense given the risks open nets put on the economies of the sport and commercial wild fisheries.”

However, the federal briefing note argues that the fish farm industry has the potential to grow in a sustainable manner after several years of uncertainty due to political concerns.

B.C. announced a moratorium in 2008 after an all-party committee recommended such a move.

The moratorium area begins near the top end of Aristazabal Island, roughly 150 kilometres south of the mouth of the Skeena River.

Pat Bell, then the Liberal minister responsible for the file at the time, hinted that the suspension was only temporary.

“Currently, there are no operating finfish farms on the North Coast and the government is implementing this suspension to allow time to explore new management options for aquaculture practices,” he said.

“We have huge potential if we work together with the First Nations Leadership Council in dealing with finfish aquaculture. These discussions will allow us to work collaboratively to create a comprehensive and forward-reaching provincial aquaculture plan that protects the health of wild salmon.”

However, both governments indicated Thursday that the proposed high-level lobbying never took place and gave no indication a policy change is imminent.

“There have been no discussions to date,” said federal Fisheries spokesman David Walters.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Video

Today's News

Best of Postmedia

“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, ‘Come and see.’ And I saw, and behold a white elephant, and he that sat upon him had a crown, which he wore atop his fiery hair, and […]

Millennials, amirite? They’re nothing but Instagram-happy, emoji-LOL-ing, mannequin-challenging navelgazers. Or so the theory goes. How can they put their pants on one leg at a time, like everyone else, when they’re sausaged into skinny jeans? Yet when it comes to […]

An Ottawa judge has thrown out a romance fraud case that has taken more than four years to go to trial, ruling that the excessive delay has robbed the accused man of his right to a fair trial. Ontario Superior Court Justice Kevin Phillips on Friday stayed the case against Kevin Bishop of Ottawa, who had […]

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.